Friday, July 27, 2012

Pair of Floral Candle Sconces

Very pretty metal candle sconces with painted flowers in soft pastels and accents of gold leaf.  11" h., 12" w.    Italian, c. 1950's  SOLD

"Union National Furniture Company" Chinoiserie Cabinet

This nicely sized display cabinet by Union National Furniture of New York is a little smaller than most.  It is ebonized and hand painted with a beautiful asymmetrical scene of a peacock and tree on the base.  It has gold leaf accents and panels of deep green.  There are four original shelves in ochre with double plate rails.  In addition, there are four thick glass shelves that were custom made for the piece.  The interior is lit and on a dimmer switch.  68" h., 36" l., 14"w.  American, c. 1950's  SOLD

Pair of Gilt Candle Sconces

Very ornate gilt and painted wood candle sconces with floral decoration.  26" h., 11" w.  Italian, c.1950's SOLD

"Merton Gershun for American of Martinsville" Credenza


Smart looking walnut credenza designed by Merton Gershun for the Dania line by American of Martinsville.  This very versatile piece has three shingle front drawers and two lacquered doors which open to three drawers and an open compartment with one shelf.  It would make a great sideboard, chest for a bedroom or entertainment cabinet. (lighter areas are reflection on the highly polished drawers) 60" l., 18 1/2" w., 30" h,  American, c. 1960 SOLD

Saturday, July 21, 2012

"La Barge" Cart

Elegant solid brass cart by La Barge.  This timeless piece has four bevelled glass shelves, fluted brass columns and large casters for easy maneuverability.  35" l., 24" w., 34" h.  Italian, c. second half 20th c. SOLD

Friday, July 20, 2012

Jean Cocteau; "La Mediterranee"

Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) was a poet, artist, writer and film maker.  In addition to his writings, including "Les Enfants Terribles" and his films including "Beauty and the Beast" and "Orpheus", he is known for his associations with many of Europe's top artists, writers, actors and musicians.  His circle included Pablo Picasso, Coco Chanel, Marlene Dietrich and Edith Piaf.  One of the groups' restaurants of choice was La Mediterranee at 2 Place de l'Odeon.  Cocteau provided artwork and writing for the restaurant that was used for signage and on plates and menus.

 Reverse
 La Mediterranee interior
Plate image

This original pen and ink drawing by Cocteau bears the image and verse done for La Mediterranee.  It was drawn on the back of a menu insert and contains many of his signature images including the serrated neck, sun and fish eye.  It was likely done for a friend with whom he was dining at the time.  It has a great immediacy and energy, and beautiful verse.  Framed 21 1/4" l. 15 3/4" w.  French, c.1960.  SOLD

"Merton Gershun for American of Martinsville" Tall Chest

Handsome chest of drawers designed by Merton Gershun for the Dania line by American of Martinsville.  The chest has three smaller square front drawers with brass hardware over three long shingle front drawers.  A long shallow top drawer has six divided compartments.  The legs are tapered with brass accents.  38" l., 19" w., 44" h.  American, c. 1960's SOLD

Clarence Attridge; Seascape

Clarence Attridge (1907-1992) was born in New York City and studied at R.I.T.  He worked as a scenic artist for theatres on Broadway and as a mural painter for both public institutions and private residences.  In the early forties, he moved to California.  He worked and exhibited primarily in San Diego and Southern California, and was most active during the forties and fifties.  This very luminous seascape is from that period.      It depicts waves crashing against a rocky coastline as the sun is beginning to break through the heavy cloud cover above.  It is in it's original, very complimentary frame and is signed in the lower right corner.  48" l., 38" h. framed.  American, c. 1940's  $750.00

"Thomasville" Dining Table and Chairs



Chinese Modern dining table and six chairs made by Thomasville Furniture Co.  The very substantial table has a nicely carved skirt and beautiful burl inlay on the top.  There are two leaves and table pads.  There are four side chairs and two arm chairs.  They are very well constructed and covered in an ivory embossed medallion fabric.  72" l., 45" w., 29 1/2" h.  Each leaf is 18".  Fully extended, table measures 108".  American, c. 1970  SOLD

Sunday, July 15, 2012

"The Company of Master Craftsmen" Console and Mirror

The Company of Master Craftsmen was founded in 1925 as a subsidiary of W. & J. Sloane.  W. & J. Sloane, based in New York City, was one of the oldest and most established furniture makers and retailers in the U.S.  It had a history of furnishing many of the finest homes in the country including the Breakers and the White House.

William Sloane Coffin Sr., who was President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and an executive with the Sloane Company, founded the Company of Master Craftsmen to make colonial style furniture.  The company worked closely with the Metropolitan Museum's American wing, reproducing rare pieces from the collection to decorate the homes and offices of many of New York's and the country's elite.  The Company's production was quite limited during its' thirty years in business making their pieces quite rare and very collectible.  Today, a number of museums including the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the M.F.A. in Boston have Company of Master Craftsmen pieces in their permanent collections as examples of fine "revival" furniture.  






Exceptional console and mirror by The Company of Master Craftsmen.  The two tiered console has an ebonized top and columns, and a mahogany base.  The back is mirrored and flanked by mahogany pilasters.  Both the columns and pilasters have bronze capitals.  A pair of bronze stars decorate the front of the console.  The mirror has ebonized, gilt and bronze decoration and a hand-painted scene with two griffins flanking an urn.  Console 36" l., 16" w., 34" h.  Mirror 38" l., 24" w.  American, c. 1940's  SOLD

The American Style: Colonial Revival and the Modern Metropolis

Settee;  Company of Master Craftsmen

Click on link below to view Classicist Blog

The American Style: Colonial Revival and the Modern Metropolis

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Commode

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Commode

Empire Sideboard


Handsome mahogany sideboard with crest and acanthus decoration.  This very ample sideboard has three drawers on top of cabinets.  The center cabinet has two shelves.  The cabinet on the left has four shelves, two of which pull out and are lined for flatware storage.  The right cabinet has three shelves.  72" l., 26" w., 55" h.  American, c. 1860  SOLD

Gilt Framed Mirror


Classic gilt wood framed mirror with acanthus leaf decoration at the corners.  39" l., 28" w.  American, c. 1940's SOLD

"Ramseur" Furniture Co. Chest


Great modern lines and hardware on this chest of drawers by the Ramseur Furniture Co. of Ramseur, N. C. (founded 1905).  The chest is of solid wood construction covered in a decorative laminate giving it a nice, casual, beachy feel.  The hardware is brass, and there are decorative brasses on the feet and cross bar.38" l., 19" w., 46" h.  American, c. 1960  SOLD

Empire Wardrobe



Magnificent flame mahogany Empire wardrobe.  The wardrobe has two doors, with key locks and carved  Gothic arches, which open to a rod for hanging on one side and three shelves and two drawers on the other.  The crown piece has beautifully carved dentil moulding and the base has ball feet.  65" l., 20" w., 84" h.  American, c. 1870 SOLD

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Bronze Sconce





Wonderful decoration of urns, griffins, garlands and lion's head on this bronze candle sconce.  The very thick bevelled mirror in the center reflects light from the three candles beautifully. 21" h., 12" w. c. 1900  SOLD

Glass Demijohn

Very decorative, vintage demijohn in a beautiful deep olive green.  20" h.  c. first half 20th c. SOLD

"Red Lion" Credenza with Display Cabinet

Another outstanding piece from the Red Lion Furniture Company.  This credenza has six drawers and two cabinets for storage, and features very unusual figure "8" hardware.  The low profile top piece has two additional drawers and shelves for display or for books.  60" l., 20" w., 58" h.  American, c. 1950  SOLD

"York County Chair Company" Dining Table and Chairs


The York County Chair Company was a smaller furniture maker based in Red Lion, PA.  Their quality was on par with Widdicomb, Henredon and other fine makers of the period.  This beautiful table (with one leaf) and set of six chairs has clean, modern lines and warm blond tones.  The wood and upholstery are in excellent original condition.  56" l., 36" w. 29" h.  Leaf is 16"  American, c. 1951 SOLD

Monday, July 9, 2012

Mahogany Mirror

Very handsome, classic, mahogany mirror with gold gilt rope border and acanthus decoration.  37" h., 25" w.  American, c. 1950 SOLD

Pair of Glass Lamps

Great looking pair of brass and glass table lamps.  These translucent brown, blown glass lamps have a striated interior which gives them the look of tortoise.  They are shown with shades that are available by special order.  29" h., 9" diam.  American, c. 1970 SOLD

Sunday, July 8, 2012

"F.B. Decorative Arts, N.Y." Ribbon Mirror

Large mirror in an ebonized wood frame with gilt ribbon decoration by F.B. Decorative Arts of New York.  36" l., 44" h.  American, c. 1950's SOLD

Tole Lamp

Very nice little three candle tole lamp.  The lamp has a hand painted metal shade and base, and a tri-light mechanism.  18" h. 7" w.  American, c. 1940's SOLD

Friday, July 6, 2012

Adolfo Carducci; "Fiacre au Cascine, Florence"


Adolfo Carducci (1903-1984) was an Italian born artist who painted mainly in Paris.  This oil on canvas is entitled Fiacre au Cascine, Florence (Horse and Carriage in Cascine, Florence)  The Park of the Cascine is the largest public park in Florence and was originally purchased by Alessandro and Cosimo I Medici to be used as a game reserve and for bovine farming.  This impasto, impressionistic painting by Carducci features a horse and carriage in the foreground and a couple on a park bench set against a very lively and colorful natural backdrop.  It is in it's original frame, signed in the lower right corner, and was originally purchased in Paris.  25" l., 18" h.,  (36" l., 30" h. framed)  Italian, c. 2nd qtr. 20th c. SOLD

Mirror on Stand

Substantial oval mirror with lucite and brass stand.  The mirror sits in a curved lucite frame and swivels on a very well made mechanism.  It is a great piece for a bathroom, bedroom or even a more prominent location as it is highly decorative as well as functional.  20" h., 14" l., 5" w.  American, c. 1950 SOLD

Paul Kedelv; Flygsfors Art Glass Bowl

Stunning pink, white and clear cased glass bowl by Paul Kedelv for his Coquille series.  This piece is signed and dated on the base.  20" l., 4" w., 11" h.  Sweden, 1959 SOLD

"F.B. Decorative Arts, N.Y." Gilt Mirror

Hand crafted and hand finished, ornate, gilt wood framed mirror by F. B. Decorative Arts of New York.  This beautiful mirror has shell and floral carving on the frame and a substantial bevelled border on the mirror. 34" h., 22" l.  American, c. 1960's SOLD

Murano Glass Tiger

This large, very fine, art glass tiger has a gold inner casing from head to tail.  The clear outer casing has deep amethyst stripes which are suspended through the entire piece.  The teeth are opaque white glass and the tongue and eyes are a translucent amethyst.  16" l., 7" h.  Italian, c. 1960's SOLD

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Leather Campaign Chairs

Handsome set of four wrought-iron, campaign style arm chairs with tan leather sling seats and back rests.  American, c. 1970's  SOLD

"Baker Furniture Co." Mahogany Table



Timeless, elegant, mahogany pedestal table by Baker Furniture.  The inlaid marquetry top has a contrasting mahogany banded border.  The base has four columns, inlaid legs and silver casters.  54" diam., 30" h.  American, c. 1950's SOLD

Sunday, July 1, 2012

"Bassett Furnituire Co." Credenza

Bassett Furniture Company was founded in 1902 by the Bassett family of Henry County, Virginia. The family owned a pair of sawmills that had supplied railroad ties and bridge-building material for the construction of the Norfolk & Western Railfroad. When the railroad was completed the family started selling wood to furniture makers. Then J.D. Bassett and his brothers decided to form their own furniture company rather than ship raw material. The company earned $76,000 in revenue in its first year. By 1920, it was a $1 million company.  Bassett furniture still exists today with the mission of making fine hand crafted furniture, and they are still based in Virginia.



This very sharp, very cool, mid-century credenza by Bassett is made of walnut and has a center door which opens to reveal three drawers.  There are three drawers on either side with great looking modern pulls. There is a matching mirror that comes with the piece.  74" l., 19" w., 29" h.  American, c. 1960's SOLD